It's Miller's Time Again in Big Hops Win
Published on July 17, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
EUGENE, ORE. --- Jared Miller just keeps rolling along.
The 6'7" lefthander, a second-year pro from Vanderbilt, struck out 11 Eugene Emeralds over six shutout innings on Thursday night in Eugene. The Hops pounded 10 hits --- including five doubles --- in a 4-0 win. Miller, whose ERA has spiraled to 0.66, has won all six of his starts.
The win, coupled with Salem-Keizer's 11-8 loss at home to Boise, means Hillsboro (16-12) is in a first-place tie with Salem-Keizer (16-12) with 10 games remaining in the first half. Eugene (15-13) is one game out.
The Hops broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth --- the 14th time in the last 17 games they've scored first. Alexis Olmeda singled to right, and with one out, Fernery Ozuna doubled him home. After Hops shortstop Mike Freeman --- playing his first game with Hillsboro on an injury rehab assignment from Triple-A Reno --- drew a walk, Zach Nehrir doubled to drive home Ozuna. And with two out, Josh Anderson clouted Hillsboro's third two-bagger of the inning to score Nehrir and give the Hops a 3-0 lead.
Miller allowed just one hit in his first five innings, a first-inning double by Cubs' 2015 first-round draft choice Ian Happ --- one of just two hard-hit balls Miller allowed all night. The only time he got into real trouble was in the sixth, when the Emeralds' Ho-Young Son lined a single to left, and with one out, Frandy De La Rosa tapped a single up along third. Happ, who had beaten the Hops with an 11th-inning home run two weeks ago tonight in Hillsboro, came up representing the tying run. He lined a 3-2 pitch down the right-field line, and it was foul by less than two feet... certainly one of the bigger plays in the game. Miller struck him out on the next pitch, a 3-2 slider. And then he whiffed Eloy Jimenez on a 1-2 slider to notch his career-high 11th K.
That was the last threat Eugene would have until the ninth.
Hillsboro added a run in the seventh inning when Anderson doubled home Sergio Alcantara to make it 4-0.
Brody Greer worked two scoreless innings, and Ryan Burr came on for the ninth. After striking out De La Rosa, he walked Happ. Then after striking out Jimenez, he walked Ian Rice. With the tying run on deck, Joe Martarano hit a fly ball to shallow right, and when Luis Veras made a running basket catch, the Hops had secured the win.
Nehrir has hit in seven consecutive games, matching the team this year set by Veras from June 27 to July 5. Anderson is nipping at his heels, having hit in six in a row.
Cody Reed (3-1, 1.65) gets the start for the Hops in the series finale on Friday night in Eugene. A Hops win would even the season series at three apiece against Eugene, which would be important should the two teams finish in a first-half tie.
Airtime on Friday is 6:35 on Rip City Radio 620AM, and on the internet at www.RipCityRadio.com.
Northwest League Stories from July 17, 2015
- Emeralds Blanked by Hillsboro, 2-0 - Eugene Emeralds
- Canadians Set For Exciting Eight-Game Home Stand - Vancouver Canadians
- 10 Days Left in 1st-Half Race, Hops Seek Key Win in Eugene - Hillsboro Hops
- Moore Dazzles in Walk-Off, Pinch-Hit Win - Spokane Indians
- Boise's Early Barrage Sets up Rubber Match - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- It's Miller's Time Again in Big Hops Win - Hillsboro Hops
- Late Rally Falls Short for Everett - Everett AquaSox
- Canadians Hold on for 5-4 Victory over AquaSox - Vancouver Canadians
- Hawks Run Past Volcanoes 11-8 - Boise Hawks
- Emeralds Fall to Hillsboro, 4-0 - Eugene Emeralds
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